Gypsum industry news

China: A 190m borehole is being drilled to rescue four trapped miners from a Gypsum mine in Shandong. It is the fifth hole that has been drilled by the rescuers since the accident happened on 25 December 2015. The hole will be used as an escape passage for the four miners, according to China Radio International.

"Now the drill work has reached the layer of red sandstone, nearing the mine roadway. Everything went well on overall. We overcame the difficulties when drilling previous layers, and now it's the final sprint. The layer of red sandstone is as thick as 30m," said rescue worker Sang Jingqiu.

When the drilling is finished, rescuers will send down a rescue capsule to the miners in the underground tunnel. Rescuers have been able to pass food and other vital supplies through an emergency hole.

When the mine collapsed 29 miners were working underground. Apart from the four trapped miners that have been located, 11 have escaped or were rescued, one is confirmed dead and 13 remain missing.

Saudi Arabia: National Gypsum has reported that net profit for the fourth quarter of 2015 fell by 66% to US$282,000 from US$828,000in the same period in 2014. Operational profit fell to US$773,000 from US$1.27m.

Net profit for the year in 2015 remained static at US$5.78m compared to US$5.79m in 2014. Operational profit fell by 36% year-on-year to US$3.47m from US$5.41m.

Canada: The Canadian Gypsum Company, a subsidiary of USG, has laid off 14 winter maintenance workers at its Little Narrows quarry in Cape Breton, according to the Canadian Press. Mine manager Byron MacMillan said that company officials have yet to make a decision on the future of the quarry. The company is looking at market conditions and is reducing spending until a decision is made. The layoffs follow winter closing since 2008.

The quarry has operated since 1935 producing gypsum and natural rock. Traditionally it has shipped its products down the eastern seaboard.

India: With glass reinforced gypsum panels manufactured by FACT-RCF Building Products Limited (FRBL) growing popular, the joint venture company's turnover is expected to surpass US$2.95m during its current financial year.

The growth is significant given that the company's turnover was less than US$73,950 two years ago. During the previous financial year, turnover touched US$369,754, according to C P Dinesh, Managing Director of FRBL.

The sale of gypsum panels during the first nine months of its current fiscal year brought in US$665,233. About 100,000ft²/yr of panels is expected to be sold during the year. Dinesh said that gypsum panels had become acceptable in the country as an alternative to conventional building materials due to their environment friendliness and cost-efficiency.

US: CertainTeed has launched its new Habito wallboard, which it says is the strongest and hardest 1/2-inch (12.5mm) wallboard on the market.

Dave Engelhardt, President of CertainTeed Gypsum, said that the product helps eliminate the frustration homeowners have when hanging heavy objects as Habito can hold heavy objects without involving anchors or wall studs.

"Habito continues our emphasis on providing innovative products that offer practical solutions to builders and homeowners," said Engelhardt. The manufacturer pointed to the following features:

• Fastening capability: Fixing capabilities that eliminate the need for threaded wallboard anchors or nailing to wall studs for fixtures under 13.6kg.
• Builder and developer upgrades: Offers professionals an upmarket option, replacing standard wallboard in high-traffic and high-impact areas of the home.
• Better acoustics: Delivers homeowners better sound insulation than traditional wallboard.